Arthroscopic Treatment for Peripheral Lesions of the TFCC: A 20-Year Follow-Up

Purpose: We treated 22 patients with a Palmer type I B triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) lesion using an arthroscopic-assisted repair performing an outside-in suture technique between November 1991 and February 1995. The first follow-up was performed 2–5 years after surgery and has previously been published. The present study aimed to assess the long-term functional outcome for these patients.

Material and Methods: We were able to trace down and include 11 patients for this 20-year follow up, the patients now being 35–78 years old. Subjective and objective outcomes were assessed based on a clinical examination and patient reported questionnaires. To evaluate the difference between the group of patients who showed up for the second follow-up with the group who didn't show up, we compared the groups using the Mann–Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test.

Results: Median Mayo Wrist score was 85 (30–100), and, according to the Modified Mayo Wrist Score, seven (out of 11) patients presented good or better results. The patients reported median low on pain (25) and median high on satisfaction (90). Compared with the uninjured contralateral side, we found median 94% range of motion (ROM) (flexion and extension), while pronation-supination was median 98% and grip strength median 90%. Ten patients presented with intact stability of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) at follow-up, while one patient presented with an instability of the DRUJ that had given her osteoarthritis. When comparing the two groups (those who showed up for the second follow-up with those who did not), we did not find any difference between the two groups.

Conclusion: The findings of the present study supports the trend of good results persisting over time for patients who have undergone arthroscopic-assisted repair.